• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.553-566
• /
• 2018

The occurrence of natural radionuclides like uranium and radon in groundwater was hydrochemically examined based on 40 well groundwaters in Mungyeong area. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was $68{\sim}574{\mu}S/cm$. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from $0.03{\sim}169{\mu}g/L$ (median value, $0.82{\mu}g/L$) and radon concentrations ranged from 70~30,700 pCi/L (median value, 955 pCi/L). Only 1 out of 40 wells (2.5%) showed uranium concentration exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL; $30{\mu}g/L$) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radon concentrations of eight wells (20%) exceeded AMCL(Alternative maximum contaminant level) of the US EPA (4,000 pCi/L). Four out of those eight wells even exceeded Finland's guideline level (8,100 pCi/L). When concentrations of uranium and radon were investigated in terms of geology, the highest values are generally associated with granite. The uranium and radon levels observed in this study are low in comparison to those of other countries with similar geological settings. It is likely that the measured value was lower than the actual content due to the inflow of shallow groundwater by the lack of casing and grouting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.199-211
• /
• 1997

As a part of study on geological disposal of radioactive waste, hydrogeochemical characteristics of deep granitic groundwater in Korea were investigated through the construction of a large geochemical dataset of natural water, the examination on the behaviour of dissolved constituents, and the consideration of phase stability based on thermodynamic approach. In granitic region, the contents of total dissolved solids increase progressively from surface waters to deep groundwaters, which indicates the presence of more concentrated waters at depth due to water-rock interaction. The chemical composition of groundwater evolves from initial $Ca^{2＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) or $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type to final N $a^{＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ or N $a^{＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) type, via $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type. Three main mechanisms seem to control the chemical composition of groundwater in the granitic region; 1) congruent dissolution of calcite at shallower depth, 2) calcite precipitation and incongruent dissolution of plagioclase at deeper depth, and 3) kaolinite-smectite or/and kaolinite-illite reaction at equilibrium at deeper depth. The behaviour of dissolved major cations (C $a^{2＋}$, $K^{＋}$, $Mg^{2＋}$, M $a^{＋}$) and silica is likely to be controlled by these reactions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.159-170
• /
• 1999

The hydrogeochemical study on the $CO_2$-rich water in the Chojeong area was carried out. The $CO_2$-rich water of Ca-$HCO_3$type is characterized by low pH (5.0~5.8). high $CO_2$concentration ($Pco_2$＜$10^{0.31}$atm) and high TDS. The water chemistry indicates that the $CO_2$-rich water was probably evolved by the local suppy of deep seated $CO_2$gas resulting in the enhanced water/rock (granite) interaction under low pH conditions. High $NO_3$concentration indicates that the $CO_2$water was mixed and diluted with low $CO_2$groundwater in the vicinity of the area, in which the extensive groundwater abstraction occurred during the past years. The evoiution of the $CO_2$-rich water in the Chojeong area for the process of $CO_2$injection water/rock interaction and mixing processes was thermodynamically simulated by PHREEQC. Although the simulation was limited to water/plagioclase interaction, the results show the feasible explanation about the observed trend of pH and Ca and Na concentrations of the $CO_2$-rich water.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.461-471
• /
• 2016

Numerical modules based on a conventional thermo-hydrological numerical model, TOUGH2, are developed to provide a numerical modeling technique for a standing column well (SCW). Cooling and heating operations for two different types of SCW are then simulated using these modules. Modeling showed these operations to be significantly influenced by heat exchange and fluid mixing between the SCW and the adjacent geologic formation and groundwater. The results also reveal that heat exchange between the oppositely flowing outflow and inflow in the PVC or PE pipe and the SCW borehole is an important factor. Overall, the numerical modeling technique developed here can reasonably simulate fluid flow and heat transport phenomena in the complex internal structures of a SCW. The proposed technique can be used practically for the quantitative analysis of heat exchange in a SCW at the design, construction, and operation stages.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.495-508
• /
• 2019

We measured the concentrations of natural radionuclides (uranium and radon) and major elements in groundwater collected from forty wells located in Wonju area to investigate the hydrochemistry and the occurrence of these radionuclides. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was 73~400 μS/cm. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.06~50.5 ㎍/L (median value, 1.55 ㎍/L) and radon concentrations ranged from 67~8,410 pCi/L (median value, 1,915 pCi/L). Uranium concentrations in 3 well, 7.5% of the samples, exceeded 30 ㎍/L, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on the chemical toxicity of uranium. Radon concentrations in 9 wells, 22.5% of the samples, and 1 well, 2.2% of the samples, exceeded 4,000 pCi/L (AMCL of the US EPA) and 8,100 pCi/L (Finland's guideline level), respectively. Concentrations of uranium and radon related to geology of the study area showd the highest values in groundwater of the biotite granite area. Uranium and radon contents in the groundwater are comparatively low compared to those in other countries with similar geological settings. It is likely that the measured value was lower than the actual content due to the inflow of shallow groundwater by the lack of casing and grouting.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2013

The study area is located on the western coastal region of Korea, partly had been reclaimed lands. Groundwaters of the coastal area show lower Eh and DO values (Eh: 0.57 V ${\rightarrow}$ 0.13 V, DO; 9.7 mg/l ${\rightarrow}$ 1.3 mg/l), and higher Fe concentrations (> 20 mg/l) than those of the inner land (< 0.3 mg/l), indicating that the redox condition of groundwater changes from oxic into suboxic/anoxic conditions as it flows from the inland toward the coastal area. In addition, Fe speciation of groundwater from the coastal area demonstrates that the most dissolved Fe exist as $Fe^{2+}$, reflecting that groundwater is under the anoxic condition to sufficiently occur Fe reduction. According to the result of Fe extraction with the sediment samples from three wells (A, B, C), the sediments provide enough $Fe^{3+}$ to occur the Fe reduction in the groundwater. Integrated all results of the groundwater and sediment, we infer that the Fe reduction to occur in groundwater is associated with the reclamation processes of the study area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.73-77
• /
• 2009

Two different aquifers with different characteristics developed in the study area - a lower and upper aquifer zone. Nitrate contamination of the lower aquifer zone was likely due to infiltration of nitrate-contaminated groundwater of the upper aquier zone through abandoned groundwater wells. In order to evaluate the feasibility of a preliminary packer designed to prevent nitrate migration through abandoned groundwater wells NO3-N concentrations of the upper and lower part of preliminary packer installed at four sampling sites were measured. Nitrate concentrations of the and lower part of Yechun sinwolri were 10.3 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L, respectively. Yechun eosinri, Yechun jeowooriis, and Andong hoegokri were $NO_3$-N concentrations in the upper (11.3, 11.0, and 14.6 mg/L) and lower (8.8, 1.6, and 8.0 mg/L), respectively. $NO_3$-N contents of all groundwater samples in the lower part after the preliminary packer installation showed 22~85% lower than those of the upper part.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2007

Shallow alluvial groundwaters in Korea of tell exceed the Korean Drinking Water Standard for dissolved iron (0.3 mg/L), which is one of the important water quality problems, especially in the use of bank infiltration technique. Using the reactive transport modeling, in this study we simulated the effectiveness of injection-and-pumping technique to remove dissolved iron in groundwater. The results of simulation showed that pumping of groundwater after injection of oxygenated water into aquifers is very effective to acquire the permissible water quality level. Groundwater withdrawal up to several times of irjected water in volume can be applicable to yield drinkable water. Potential problems such as clogging and permeability lowering due to in-situ precipitation of iron hydroxides may be insignificant. We also discuss on the mechanism and spatial extent of iron removal in aquifer.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.263-276
• /
• 2008

In diverse hydrogeologic fields, estimation of groundwater storage change is one of the most critical issues. Accurate estimation methods for determining groundwater storage change are required more and more. For Yeonyang area of Ulsan Megacity, groundwater storage change was estimated by using water balance method and hydrogeological analyses. The estimates of groundwater storage change was 240 mm corresponding to 18.7% of mean annual precipitation. Direct runoff was calculated as 137 mm (10.6% of mean annual precipitation) by using SCS-CN method. Evapotranspiration based on the Thornthwaite method was calculated as 776 mm (60.5% of mean annual precipitation). Hydraulic properties of the soil types do not show any distinct relation with hydraulic conductivity of the rocks. This fact suggests that hydraulic property on the surface is different from that of subsurface geology. According to multi-linear regression analysis between groundwater storage change and hydraulic parameters, a regression equation of groundwater storage change, which was explained by precipitation and evapotranspiration, was established.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.93-104
• /
• 2004

This paper intended to assess the hydro-structure characteristics of volcanic rocks based on the hydrogeological data obtained from the underground storage cavern during construction. The variation of groundwater levels was periodically measured from the 28 surface monitoring holes(NX size) and the hydraulic pressures and injection rates were daily monitored from the water curtain holes(95 horizontal holes and 63 vertical holes). The hydraulic interference tests were performed in whole water curtain holes. The distribution patterns of hydraulic pressure are closely related to the dip angles of fracture intersected to the water curtain holes. Three domains can be grouped by the distribution of hydraulic pressures in the horizontal water curtain holes. The initial hydraulic pressures measured immediately after drilling of water crutain holes are high in ascending order of the cavern C-2, C-1, and C-3. The priliminary hydrochemical data also indicate that the portions of the deep groundwater composition is relatively great in the cavern C-3 area. Some of the horizontal water curtain holes in the cavern C-3 show a steady higher groundwater pressure with the composition of shallow groundwater indicating the outer boundary as constant hydraulic boundary. The water curtain holes in the cavern C-2 is characterized as low initial hydraulic pressure and less injection rates, suggesting poor hydraulic connectivity to a shallow groundwater system. The results of the study can help to understand a hydraulic compartment concept in a fracture hydro-geology and be utilized during the surface investigation for a groundwater system.